Along with a photo of the new mural at their Peace Garden, the Los Angeles staff and students sent a message that read, in part:

[We] have taken inspiration from the work in Gaza. In fact we have borrowed many ideas on how to develop civic engagement projects from the public achievement curriculum that you use in Gaza…Thank you for the wonderful work that you do!

“The mural in Los Angeles—and all the messages—really touched the staff and youth in Palestine,” said Peter Lems, AFSC’s program director for Iraq and Afghanistan. He compiled all the messages into a document titled, “Greetings and good wishes to our Gaza colleagues,” which he delivered during a recent visit to the region.

“Everyone asked what Americans know about Gaza and the young people who live there,” Peter said. “The messages of solidarity stimulated conversations about next steps and the hope of young people in Gaza to connect with others in the U.S. and around the world.”

Who we are

AFSC is a Quaker organization devoted to service, development, and peace programs throughout the world. Our work is based on the belief in the worth of every person, and faith in the power of love to overcome violence and injustice. Learn more

Where we work

AFSC has offices around the world. To see a complete list see the Where We Work page.